SpaceX launched its ninth test flight of Starship on Tuesday evening, aiming to complete a full test cycle after two consecutive failures. While the rocket successfully separated from its Super Heavy booster and reached orbit, it later lost attitude control, tumbling into an uncontrolled re-entry into the Indian Ocean.
Key Highlights:
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Successful Liftoff: Starship launched atop the Super Heavy booster from SpaceX’s Starbase facility in Texas, marking the first flight using a previously flown booster.
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Booster Separation: The Super Heavy booster successfully detached, but SpaceX lost contact with it during descent, leading to an unplanned splashdown.
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Payload Deployment Failure: Starship was supposed to release mock satellites, but its cargo hatch failed to open, preventing the test.
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Loss of Control: The spacecraft lost attitude control, meaning it could no longer orient itself properly for re-entry, resulting in an uncontrolled descent into the Indian Ocean.
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Regulatory Oversight: The FAA had cleared the flight just days before, expanding hazard zones due to previous failures.
Strategic Outlook:
Despite the setback, SpaceX gathered valuable data for future flights. The company will analyze telemetry, make hardware modifications, and prepare for the next test, which is expected within a month.
Source: MSN,